The locust does not love the sick
2006/05/25 Rementeria Argote, Nagore - Elhuyar Zientziaren Komunikazioa
The Caribbean lobster (Panulirus argus) seems to be able to distinguish sick members. In fact, it rejects sick locusts and the female does not allow it to cover a sick male, as they have seen at Old Dominion University.
Prawns in general tend to concentrate. But the researchers found that there are also solitary lobsters. All these solitary locusts had white blood under the tail: they were sick, they had the virus Panulirus argus 1 (PaV1).
In view of this, the tests began: they took several lobsters, some were inserted PaV1 and the relationship between all was analyzed. During the first four weeks (when the disease was not yet revealed), 70% of healthy locusts discarded the sick and by the sixth week all patients were excluded.
Therefore, lobster is able to discriminate against the patient before the most obvious symptoms appear; they still do not know what sense they use for it, which can be smell.
Photo: C. C. Wirth.
